Shakopee staff, baseball association outline $60,000-per-field plan for Westminster fields; council asks neighbors-first approach

Shakopee staff and representatives of the Shakopee Youth Baseball Association presented proposed improvements for Westminster Park ballfields at a May 6 workshop, describing a package of changes aimed at making the fields better suited for youth baseball tournaments and regular play.

Why it matters: the project would convert softball-style fields into youth-baseball-friendly configurations, potentially increasing participation and creating a venue for 9U–11U tournaments; parking, neighborhood impact and funding were central concerns during council discussion.

Proposed changes include moving the outfield fence from roughly 240 feet to 200 feet and lowering fence height from 6 feet to 4 feet; converting the infield to turf/grass with added irrigation and maintenance (staff said irrigation exists but additional heads would be required); installing field armor in batter’s boxes to reduce maintenance; pouring concrete dugout floors; and adding shelving/storage in dugouts. The association’s president attended the meeting and staff said the group is prepared to raise funds and has already gathered about $35,000 toward the project.

Council and staff discussed parking constraints at the Westminster location, noting on-street spaces, nearby park demand and limited lot capacity. Council members asked staff and the association to hold a neighborhood meeting to gather resident feedback, explore shuttle or remote parking options (for large events) and evaluate whether phased construction or public parking additions would be feasible. Staff said a reconfiguration to add parking had been studied but would carry additional cost and neighborhood impact.

Cost estimates in the presentation included a single infield and irrigation quote of about $35,000 per field and an overall rough estimate near $60,000 per field; fencing and dugout work were smaller components. Staff suggested a phased approach — for example, replacing fences and dugout surfaces first and addressing infield grass in a later season — to spread costs over multiple years.

Council did not vote to fund the project at the meeting. Instead the council’s direction was to hold a neighborhood meeting, let staff further vet parking options and return with a more detailed plan if the association wishes to proceed; the association said it does not plan to request city funds at this time and intends to apply for outside grants.

Ending: Staff and the association will stage outreach to neighbors, refine cost and parking analyses, and report back to council before any city-funded work proceeds.